To help prevent children falling from high rise windows and balconies the NSW Government will amend Strata and Residential Tenancies legislation. The changes will require owners corporations to install safety devices on windows above the ground floor. These devices will allow windows to open to a maximum of width of 12.5cm when the lock is engaged.

These changes are in line with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) which was updated on 1 May 2013 to make window safety devices compulsory on all new residential buildings.

Owners corporations will have till 13 March 2018 to retrospectively fit the window safety devices. Failure to comply could result in penalties ranging from $50,000 for individuals through to $3,000,000 for an Owners Corporation.